Stainless steel container and plastic cap with finger loop and stainless steel plug

ABSTRACT

A plastic cap with inside threads removably attaches to a stainless steel container with mating rolled steel external threads. A center stainless steel plug inside the cap fits down into the container. A silicone O-ring on the cap creates a watertight seal with the top of the container. The contents of the stainless steel container only contact the stainless steel plug and never reach the plastic portion of the cap. A finger loop is built into the outer periphery of the plastic cap for ease in carrying or suspending the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to container closures and particularly to a container closure for a stainless steel container comprising a plastic cap with inside threads to mate with the outside threads of a stainless steel container, a center stainless steel plug which fits down into the container, a silicone O-ring on the cap sealing the top of the rim of the threaded portions of the container so that the contents of the stainless steel container only contact the stainless steel plug and never reach the plastic cap; a finger loop is built into the outer periphery of the plastic cap for ease in carrying or suspending the container. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Sports bottles and other beverage containers have been primarily made from plastics in recent years. It has recently been a concern that leaching from plastic containers into fluids can cause cancer among other things. Prior art patents fail to address the problem of preventing liquid in a stainless steel container from contacting a plastic cap.

U.S. Patent Application #20060226110, published Oct. 12, 2006 by Choi, indicates drink bottles with bite-actuated mouthpieces. In some embodiments, the mouthpieces are self-sealing mouthpieces that are biased to return from a dispensing configuration to a closed configuration. The bottles may be rigid or collapsible and may include a removable cap assembly. In some embodiments, the bottles include a manual on/off valve adapted to prevent drink fluid from being dispensed regardless of the mouthpiece's configuration. In some embodiments, the bottles include a straw extending into the bottle and/or a drink tube extending from external of the bottle and/or an air return system. In some embodiments, the bottles include a dispensing spout that is pivotally coupled to the cap of the drink bottle. In some embodiments, the dispensing spout includes a mount for the mouthpiece and/or cooperates with the cap to provide a manual on/off valve to selectively restrict flow of drink fluid from the bottle regardless of the mouthpiece's configuration.

U.S. Patent Application #20020084241, published Jul. 4, 2002 by Yu-Hsien, claims a plastic bottle neck ring with a molded pull-up ring extended either vertically or horizontally from the top and the rim of the plastic bottle top. The end of the pull-up ring is free end and the other is the connecting end which connects to the bottle top. The free end forms a bigger and wider ring and the connecting end can be one or two. Moreover, at the connecting end, users can add one narrow space. When the pull-up ring is horizontal, users can install at both ends of the narrow space a protruding block and a withholding restrainer. When the pull-up ring becomes a perpendicular angle, it becomes easier for users to carry the container.

U.S. Patent Application #20030146254, published Aug. 7, 2003 by Blondeel, describes a cap for closing an opening in a liquid container. The cap is provided with coupling means for coupling the cap to the liquid container, comprising a top element, and an outer skirt connectable to the top element, and projecting carrying means, which projecting carrying means are adapted to engage releasably on an object not connected to the cap.

U.S. Patent Application #20040217139, published Nov. 4, 2004 by Roth, discloses a closure for a bottle that defines a cavity opening to a mouth. The closure includes a closure body having a base portion configured to engage the bottle with the closure body positioned over the mouth. A liquid passageway is defined by the base portion and extends at least partially therethrough. A connector is disposed on the closure body and is adapted to allow the closure body to be detachably connected to an object.

U.S. Patent Application #20060180567, published Aug. 17, 2006 by Ott, indicates a bottle tote for a bottle having a mouth, and a neck ring of enlarged diameter. The tote includes a collar adapted to engage the neck ring; a handle with a finger hole operably connected to the collar; and a cap carried by the handle adapted to close off the mouth. The handle is moveable between an open position, and a closed position wherein the cap is pressed against the mouth. An apparatus for carrying a liquid includes a bottle having a mouth; a handle with a finger hole operably connected to the bottle; and a cap carried by the handle adapted to close off the mouth. The handle is moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein the cap is pressed against the opening. A belt clip includes at least one arm adapted to be suspended from a belt, and a hook extending outward from the arm.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,820, issued Jun. 8, 1999 to Yeh, is for a beverage container with a grooved lid. Both the beverage container body and the lid may be made from stainless steel. The beverage container includes a body defining a hollow interior for holding liquids, and a curved annular wall attached to the top rim of the body, the curved annular wall having an upper end that defines a drinking mouth. The inner diameter of the curved annular wall is greater at the upper end than at a central portion thereof. The lid includes a core having an annular outer wall which has a generally curved configuration, and at least one groove provided along the annular outer wall and extending from the top end of the core to the bottom end of the core. The lid further includes a top plate attached to the top end of the core and completely covering the groove, with the top plate having an outer circumferential edge.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,917, issued Jul. 27, 2004 to Blewitt, Ill., shows a bottle closure having an integrally attached hinged hook for convenient carrying of the bottle or container when not in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,714, issued Apr. 19, 2005 to Blanchester, claims a carrying device for attaching to a bottle around a bottle neck. The carrying device has a ring segment that is received by the neck below the bottle cap and a hook segment attached to the ring segment. The ring segment is shaped as a substantially thin planar disc, and the hook segment is planar and thin. The hook segment and the ring segment extend in a common plane and are foldable along an axis line between the hook segment and the ring segment. The axis line is perpendicularly to a connection line between centers of the openings of the hook segment and the ring segment. The planar ring segment and hook segment can be folded toward each other and be secured around bottle neck by a cap. In use, the carrying device is unfolded and having the hook segment available for attachment.

Two U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,328,069 issued Jul. 12, 1994 and 5,167,354 issued Dec. 1, 1992 to Cohanfard, describe a beverage-container carrier and sipping assembly that is designed to replace the cap on a conventional bottle-type beverage container or to be directly attached to the circumferential edge of a sport bottle or an opened beverage can. The assembly consists of a dome shaped cover that has attached a carrying strap and a straw bore on its upper surface that to accepts a drinking straw. The strap can be adjusted to an optimum length to hand carry the cover or to a length that allows the assembly to be placed around a person's neck or shoulders. In either case, the strap is attached to the containers cover at points that correspond to the container shoulder or center-of-gravity. Therefore, the container is comfortably balanced and supported when held by the strap. A vertically or horizontally oriented handle can be added to the cover to increase the assembly utility.

U.S. Pat. No. 364,552, issued Nov. 28, 1995 to Mathiassen, discloses the ornamental design for a hook for suspending or carrying bottles containing beverages.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,403, issued Mar. 6, 2001 to Yamaguchi, indicates a bottle having a hanging tool. The hanging tool comprises a flat and long connection portion extending sideways from the neck portion and having a length shorter than an outer diameter of the bottom of the bottle, and a separately molded wide annular handle portion. The connection portion is provided at its intermediate portion with a narrow portion crossing the connection portion transversely to reduce a thickness thereof, thereby making the connection portion vertically bendable at the narrow portion, a free end of the connection portion and the handle portion are formed at their predetermined locations with joint portions comprising a pair of engagement means, and the handle portion is detachable attached to the connection portion. Thereby an injection mold for molding a preform can be simple in structure and is suppressed from being enlarged.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,152, issued Nov. 12, 1996 to Arnold, puts forth a bottle strap that is adapted to detachable engagement with the neck of a bottle. The neck has a bottle neck ring with a neck region disposed below the ring. The strap is a flat elongated flexible thin member having two opposite ends with an enlargement at one end. The enlargement has an opening therein. The opening has a serrated periphery and is adapted to be snap-fitted over the bottle neck ring so that the enlargement is firmly secured to the neck region, the other end of the member being adapted to detachably engage the member at a position intermediate its ends, thereby forming a closed loop.

U.S. Pat. No. 511,457, issued Nov. 15, 2005 to Biesecker, illustrates the ornamental design for a container closure with a handle.

What is needed is a stainless steel container with external threads having a plastic cap with a stainless steel plug fitting into the container to prevent contact of the liquid in the container with the plastic cap.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a stainless steel container with external rolled stainless steel threads around the outside perimeter of the wide mouth top opening and a plastic cap with a downward extending annular rim having mating internal threads for removable securing the cap to the bottle and a stainless steel plug extending downwardly from the interior of the cap fitting into the container to prevent contact of the liquid in the container with the plastic cap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an O-ring between the cap and the container to seal the cap with a watertight fit and further assist in preventing contact of the contents of the container with the plastic cap.

One more object of the present invention is to provide an upwardly extending finger loop built into the outer periphery of the plastic cap extending out past the outer perimeter of the cap rim for ease in carrying or suspending the bottle from a belt or hook.

An alternate object is to provide a flat plastic cap with a stainless steel plug and a cord pivotally attached to the top of the cap and to the neck of the stainless steel container to retain the cap with the container and allow the cap to be screwed onto and off of the stainless steel container.

In brief, a cap for a stainless steel container comprises a plastic cap with inside threads to mate with the rolled stainless steel outside threads of a large mouth stainless steel container. A stainless steel plug extends downwardly from the center of the cap interior to fit down into the bottle to prevent contact of the contents in the stainless steel container with the plastic of the cap. A finger loop is built into the outer periphery of the plastic cap for ease in carrying or suspending the container. A silicone O-ring between the cap and the bottle rim creates a watertight seal and further prevents the contents in the stainless steel container from contacting the plastic of the cap.

An advantage of the present invention is that it prevents contact of the contents of the stainless steel container with the plastic of the cap.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cap with a watertight fit.

One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides a covered stainless steel container that is easy to carry or suspend from a belt or hook.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic cap having a stainless steel plug of the present invention, showing the top of the cap with a loop with a finger grip hole;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plastic cap of FIG. 1, showing the underside of the cap showing a stainless steel plug extending from the underside of the cap, and showing the internal threads inside the cap ring;

FIGS. 3A-3D each show side elevational views of the cap of FIG. 1 installed on various sizes of wide mouthed stainless steel bottles;

FIG. 4. is a side elevational view of the cap of FIG. 1 showing the outside of the cap with ridges or grooves on the rim for gripping to tighten or loosen the cap;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1 installed on a stainless steel bottle, showing the stainless steel plug on the underside of the cap, an O-ring encircling the stainless steel plug, and mating threads on the interior of the cap and the exterior of the bottle neck;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the underside of the cap of FIG. 1, showing the stainless steel plug;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1, showing how the stainless steel plug is recessed from the bottom edge of the cap rim so that when the cap is removed from the bottle and set down on a flat surface the stainless steel plug will not contact the surface;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the cap of the present invention installed on a stainless steel bottle, showing the stainless steel plug on the underside of the flat top cap with no finger loop, an O-ring encircling the stainless steel plug, and mating threads on the interior of the cap and the exterior of the bottle neck, and a retaining cord between the container neck and the cap;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the plastic cap of FIG. 8, showing the underside of the cap showing a stainless steel plug extending from the underside of the cap top, and showing the internal threads inside the cap ring;

FIGS. 10A-10D each show side elevational views of the cap of FIG. 8 installed on various sizes of wide mouthed stainless steel bottles;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a flat top plastic cap having a stainless steel plug of the present invention, showing the cap aligned for installation on a stainless steel bowl;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the flat top plastic cap installed on the stainless steel bowl of FIG. 11 showing a nested array of capped bowls of diminishing sizes inside the outer capped bowl;

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the plastic cap of FIG. 11 showing the stainless steel plug on the underside of the cap;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the underside of the cap of FIG. 11 showing the stainless steel plug and the internal threads on the inside of the cap rim;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 11, showing how the stainless steel plug is recessed from the bottom edge of the cap rim so that when the cap is removed from the bottle and set down on a flat surface the stainless steel plug will not contact the surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-15, a cap 20, 20A, and 20B which can be used on any externally threaded stainless steel container, or a combination cap and stainless steel container device 10, 10A comprises a substantially plastic cap 20, 20A, and 20B a stainless steel plug 24 extending downwardly from the interior surface of the cap top, and a silicone O-ring 27.

In FIGS. 1-7, the exterior of the plastic cap 20 has an upwardly extending loop 22 with a finger grip hole 23 for holding and hanging the cap 20, with the cap attached to and covering a wide mouth stainless steel bottle 30 for carrying and storing the covered stainless steel bottle 30 by the loop. In a preferred embodiment, the upwardly extending loop 22 extends upwardly away from the annular rim 21 and outwardly away from the center of the cap 20 to a position beyond an outer perimeter of the annular rim 21, providing for easy hand grasping and easy encircling by a strap or a hook for suspending the covered stainless steel bottle 10, 10A using the loop 22.

In FIGS. 1-15, the cap 20, 20A, and 20B has a downwardly extending peripheral annular rim 21, which has external vertical ridges 26 or grooves that a user can grip when tightening or loosening the cap 20, 20A and 20B on the bottle 10 or bowl 10A. The ridges 26 may either partially encircle the exterior of the rim 21, as show in FIGS. 1 and 10, or may completely encircle the exterior of the rim 21, as shown in FIG. 4. The annular rim 21 also has internal threads 25 inside the annular rim for engaging mating external threads 35 around a mouth of a wide mouth stainless steel bottle 30, as shown in FIG. 3, or stainless steel bowl 30A, as shown in FIG. 11, to cover the stainless steel bottle 30 or bowl 30A with the cap 20, 20A.

A stainless steel plug 24 is secured to the underside of the cap 20, 20A centered under the cap and spaced apart from the annular rim 21 so that with the cap screwed onto the stainless steel bottle 30 or bowl 30A, the stainless steel plug 24 extends down into the stainless steel bottle 30 or bowl 30A, thereby preventing contact of liquid in the stainless steel bottle or bowl with the plastic of the cap 20, 20A and 20B.

In FIGS. 7, 8, and 15, each of the stainless steel plugs 24 of the plastic caps 20, 20A and 20B is recessed from the bottom rim 18 of the cap so that when the cap is removed from the bottle and placed on a flat surface, the stainless steel plug does not contact the flat surface to maintain the stainless steel plug in a sanitary condition so that the contents of the container contacting the stainless steel plug will not be exposed to unsanitary conditions.

A silicone O-ring 27 encircles the stainless steel plug 24 on the cap 20, 20A, and 20B and creates a seal between the cap and the neck 31 of the bottle 30 or bowl 30A, creating a watertight seal between the cap 20, 20A and 20B and the bottle 30 or bowl 30A when the external threads 35 of the bottle or bowl neck are mated with internal threads 25 of the cap 20, 20A, and 20B so that the contents of the stainless steel bottle or bowl only contact the stainless steel plug 24 of the cap 20, 20A and never contact the plastic cap.

In FIGS. 5 and 8, the device of the present invention has a wide mouth stainless steel bottle 30 (or bowl 30A as seen by viewing both FIGS. 11 and 14) with roll formed stainless steel external threads 35 around the outside perimeter of the mouth of the bottle or bowl 30, 30A that mates with the internal threads 25 of the plastic cap 20, 20A, and 20B.

In FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7, the plastic cap 20 has the upwardly extending loop 22 with finger grip hole 23 which loop extends above the cap and beyond the outer perimeter of the cap rim for ease of gripping and hanging. In FIGS. 8-15, the plastic cap 20A and 20B has a substantially flat top surface of the cap with no loop and finger grip hole.

In FIG. 8, a retaining cord 15 preferably of natural “green” fiber connects the cap 20B to the container 30 to prevent loss of the cap when the container is opened for use. A first cord loop 16A at one end of the cord 15 is secured around the neck 31 of the container 30 and a second cord loop 16B at the other end of the cord 15 is secured around a capped pin 14 which may be molded on the cap during manufacturing. At least the second cord loop 16B pivots freely around the capped pin 14 to enable the cap 20B to be turned relative to the container 30 for installation and removal of the cap.

In FIG. 12, a nested array of capped bowls 30A of diminishing sizes fits inside the outer capped bowl for storage of the bowls.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. 

1. A cap device for a stainless steel container having external threads, the device comprising: a substantially plastic cap comprising a top surface having and a downwardly extending peripheral annular rim around the top surface, the annular rim having internal threads inside the annular rim for engaging mating external threads around a mouth of a stainless steel container to secure them together and cover the stainless steel container with the cap; a stainless steel plug secured to an underside of the cap centered under the cap top surface and spaced apart from the annular rim so that with the cap screwed onto the stainless steel container the stainless steel plug extends down into the stainless steel container thereby preventing contact of liquid in the stainless steel container with the plastic of the cap; a silicone O-ring on the cap sealing the top of the rim of the container so that the contents of the stainless steel container only contact the stainless steel plug and never contact any plastic surfaces of the cap.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cap further comprises a rigid finger grip loop extending upwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cap for holding and hanging the cap with the cap attached to and covering a stainless steel container for carrying and storing the covered stainless steel container by the loop.
 3. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for securing the cap to the container with the cap removed from covering the container.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for securing the cap to the container with the cap removed from covering the container comprises a flexible cord looped around an outer surface of a neck of the container and looped around a capped pin extending from the cap.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the stainless steel plug is recessed inside a bottom edge of the rim of the cap so that when the cap is placed on a flat surface with the bottom edge of the rim contacting the flat surface the stainless steel plug does not contact the flat surface thereby preventing contamination of the stainless steel plug.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the stainless steel container comprises a bottle.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the stainless steel container comprises a bowl.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the cap of the stainless steel bowl is flat on top so that a number of covered stainless steel bowls of diminishing sizes can fit inside one another in a nested array for storage and transportation of empty stainless steel bowls.
 9. A stainless steel externally threaded container and a mating internally threaded plastic cap having an internal stainless steel plug, comprising in combination: a wide mouth stainless steel container having roll formed stainless steel outside threading around an outside perimeter of the mouth; a substantially plastic cap comprising a top surface having and a downwardly extending peripheral annular rim around the top surface, the annular rim having internal threads inside the annular rim for engaging the mating external threads around the mouth of the stainless steel container to secure them together and cover the stainless steel container with the cap; a stainless steel plug secured to an underside of the cap centered under the cap and spaced apart from the annular rim so that with the cap screwed onto the stainless steel container the stainless steel plug extends down into the stainless steel container thereby preventing contact of liquid in the stainless steel container with the plastic of the lid; a silicone O-ring on the cap sealing the top of the rim of the threaded portions of the container so that the contents of the stainless steel container only contact the stainless steel plug and never reach the plastic threaded ring.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the cap further comprises a rigid finger grip loop extending upwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the cap for holding and hanging the cap with the cap attached to and covering a stainless steel container for carrying and storing the covered stainless steel container by the loop.
 11. The combination of claim 9 further comprising means for securing the cap to the container with the cap removed from covering the container.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the means for securing the cap to the container with the cap removed from covering the container comprises a flexible cord looped around an outer surface of a neck of the container and looped around a capped pin extending from the cap.
 13. The combination of claim 9 wherein the stainless steel plug is recessed inside a bottom edge of the rim of the cap so that when the cap is placed on a flat surface with the bottom edge of the rim contacting the flat surface the stainless steel plug does not contact the flat surface thereby preventing contamination of the stainless steel plug.
 14. The combination of claim 9 wherein the stainless steel container comprises a bottle.
 15. The combination of claim 9 wherein the stainless steel container comprises a bowl.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the cap of the stainless steel bowl is flat on top so that a number of covered stainless steel bowls of diminishing sizes can fit inside one another in a nested array for storage and transportation of empty stainless steel bowls. 